Ch 2.28: Invisible

Carline was on edge as they stopped for the night, setting up a basic camp. There wouldn’t be any fire despite the chill, not with the possibility that they were being followed still up in the air. She scanned the trees with her eyes, feeling out again with her aspect as well. It was just her, her three companions, and the captive, same as it had been for the last few hours, save the random squirrel or mouse they passed. Of course, it had seemed like no one was with them in the cave as well.

Invisible wasn’t quite the right word. [Health] wouldn’t care if you were visible at all, only that you were there and alive. It had been disturbing when the people she’d felt sneaking up on them had disappeared. It was the same as when someone died, one moment the undeniable presence of life, and then the instantaneous pop out of existence. That thought made Carline put away the hard cracker she’d been chewing on. Death wasn’t an easy thing to think about before her Awakening, and now that she could literally feel it happen to someone else, it was even worse.

She turned to Flora, watching the smiling girl eat her own trail food. Carline knew the smile was fake. Flora was always smiling, and most people thought that was just how she really was, that she really was always happy. They were almost right, because the times the smile was fake were rare, but Carline could always notice. When Flora was faking it the smile was actually too warm, too comforting. It was good acting, too good even.

“Hey,” Elaina said, gesturing to the captive they had tied up a short distance away. They’d cuffed her feet together with shackles that Tira had brought along for some reason, and then bound her to a tree as well just to be safe. “Won’t she be cold? We don’t have a blanket or anything for her.”

“I have a jacket we can lay over her,” Tira said, picking at her own food and staring into the woods. “Not the warmest, but it’ll keep her from getting frozen.

“Gee, thanks so much,” the woman said. She’d refused to give her name when asked, just like she’d refused to give any information about who she was working with.

“You’re lucky you’re getting even that with how much information you’ve given us,” Tira said. “For your sake, I hope you’re more forthcoming with the town guard. They don’t have nearly the reputation to keep up as we do.”

“I mean, they’re not gonna do anything that bad, right?” Elaina asked. Carline knew Tira was still playing it up, but it seemed Elaina didn’t like them acting that way to the woman, criminal or not.

“For poaching? Probably not. For attempted murder of an Endrin student? That one’s not going to go over so well.” Flora’s smile grew ever so much more fake.

Carline herself hadn’t quite comprehended that yet. One second she was alone, and then the next Flora was holding something next to her, something neither of them could see. But Flora only knew someone was there from her class equipment, and with that she could only sense someone actively targeting her party members. That combined with the dagger they’d found ont the ground was more than enough to prove the intent of the would-be assassin, but it still didn’t feel real. Carline hadn’t even put it all together at first.

“Can we talk about something else?” Carline asked. Anything else.

“We’ll be getting home early,” Elaina said. Despite everything, Carline smiled at that, at Elaina calling the school “home.”

“Not too early,” Flora said. “We’ll probably make it to town tomorrow evening without a carriage, and then make it back early on Seventhday instead of late Seventhday or Firstday morning.”

“Still hard to believe you all are still in school,” their captive muttered. Despite her reluctance to answer any of their questions, she had a habit of offering unwanted comments quite frequently.

Carline looked over at the woman again. She didn’t look the way Carline imagined a criminal would. She was a handful of years older than them, had neat brown hair, clothes clean enough for anyone spending multiple days out in the woods, no visible scars or missing teeth. She was just a person, and for some reason she didn’t quite understand Carline was uncomfortable with that fact.

“We are adults you know,” Tira said, looking annoyed again at the commentary. “This is extra schooling after the regular stuff everyone gets.”

The captive laughed at that. Carline wasn’t sure what for, but she did catch Elaina frown as she glanced at the laughter.

Elaina. There was that problem too. Carline had kind of been banking on a long weekend to work up the courage to talk to her. She’d wanted to consult with Flora too—she’d always been better at these sorts of things—but it wasn’t looking like there’d be a lot of time. She needs to know.

But how? They couldn’t safely split off, not with the very real possibility they were being followed. It was possible they were surrounded by undetectable foes, waiting only for them to fall asleep. No, they needed to stay together for the night, and it certainly wasn’t a conversation that could be had out in the open.

Tomorrow night then, after we drop the lady off with the guards. Either that or the following morning at least. Carline knew earlier was better, but the only thing that really mattered was that it was before they got back to school. Maybe the next morning is better. I can talk it over with Flora tomorrow night at least then.

Yeah, the morning they arrived back would be fine, but no later. Carline had to tell Elaina the truth before they got back to campus, no matter what.